Where We Spent a Wake Window: Kitsilano Community Centre
Location & Parking:
Parking: Since this is our local spot, we always walk! If you’re driving in, there is some paid on-street parking in the general vicinity, but it can get busy during peak hours.
Set your GPS to: 2690 Larch St. Vancouver, BC Canada V6K 4K9
Official info: https://kitscc.com/
Child: $3 per session (or a 10-visit pass for $27, which is a great deal if you’re a regular).
Adults: FREE.
Wheely Friendly?
Yes. The play group is held in a large, open gymnasium. You can park your stroller right against the wall inside the gym so you can keep an eye on it while you play.
Jumping castle is a huge hit at the community centre.
The Snack Situation:
No food or drink is allowed inside the gym itself but, you can have a packed lunch in the area outside the gym.
Picnic Spot: There is beautiful Connaught park right behind the Centre which is perfect for a picnic on a sunny day.
Nearby Eats: If you didn't pack a lunch, West Broadway is just a 10-minute walk away with an endless assortment of cafés and restaurants.
Potty Proximity:
Clean bathrooms are located conveniently near the gym entrance.
Mum Musings:
The Kits community centre is our neighbourhood go-to play area on a colder day.
This was another day where I relied on that "Master Schedule" I found. It's worth noting I discovered a schedule of family times at various community centres across Vancouver. It is super helpful when you’re looking for something that is easily accessible, inexpensive, and actually fun. I’ve bookmarked the schedules for all the community centres near us - I’d highly recommend doing that for your own local centres - Drop in parent and tot play groups
The Gymnasium Vibe
The parent and tot play time at Kits is for children 6months - 5 years old. While times vary by day, they usually fall right in that 9:30 am to 12:00 pm sweet spot.
It’s a clean, bright space, and the first time I went with Yuyu, I finally understood why her favorite word lately had been “castle!” She had been coming here during the week with her wonderful caregiver, Dani, to play on the giant "Jumping Castle." Aside from the bouncy castle, they have climbing structures, bikes, soccer balls, and an amazing assortment of toys.
Toddler Tolerance Level:
1.5 hours. We typically stay for a good part of the session and then head outside for some fresh air and lunch on nice days.
Nap Roulette Options?
You are spoiled for choice here. The community centre is right next to Connaught Park playground which has a great splash pad and plenty of open grass for running around or going for a walk in the neighbourhood.
Author
I’m Mimi, the writer behind Mi & Yu. This blog was born out of a year spent exploring Vancouver with my toddler Yuyu and newborn son Gabe while my husband Jamie worked through a demanding fellowship.
What started as a way to survive the newborn phase turned into a collection of tried-and-tested family adventures, real reviews, tested logistics, and the occasional toddler meltdown included. Now back home in Newfoundland, I’m sharing those adventures so other parents can skip the decision fatigue and get straight to the fun part.
